Libyan authorities have deported more than 150 Nigerian women and children as part of a “voluntary return” program aimed at repatriating irregular migrants.
The deportation, carried out in collaboration with a United Nations-affiliated agency, took place on Tuesday, according to officials.
Libya continues to serve as a key transit hub for African migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean.
However, many of these migrants face difficult conditions, including detention and forced deportation.
An official from Libya’s migration agency, Mohamad Baredaa, confirmed that the group consisted entirely of women and children.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which facilitated the repatriation, reported that the deportees included 160 women and 17 children.
The group, dressed in black tracksuits, was gathered at a detention center in Tripoli before being transported to Mitiga Airport, where they boarded a flight back to Nigeria.
Baredaa also revealed that additional repatriation flights are scheduled for later in the week from Mitiga and Benghazi airports.
These flights will deport migrants from other countries, including Bangladesh, Gambia, and Mali.
Libya has struggled with political instability and violence since the 2011 uprising that led to the removal and death of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The ongoing crisis has enabled human traffickers to exploit migrants, exposing them to harsh treatment and abuse.
The IOM estimates that more than 700,000 migrants are currently in Libya. However, Libyan authorities argue that the actual number is much higher.
Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi recently suggested that the migrant population could exceed four million, emphasizing that Libya cannot handle the migration crisis alone and will not become a permanent settlement for migrants.
